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An ideal location for country
lovers!
1 hour from Toulouse or Carcassonne
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| Sunday Times 10.01.10 - No. 30 The 100 Best Holidays in 2010 - "A lake to die for" |
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| Front of St Victor du Fau |
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| 12m x 6m Swimming pool |
Holiday-vacation rental accommodation
in the Ariege Pyrenees (Department 09) near Pamiers, Foix & Mirepoix in SW France Ski resorts nearby and beautiful views of the countryside.
2 Gites
Farmhouse
sleeps up to 4 people - self catering - 3 storey farmhouse
from 1st May - 28th August 2010
Wifi enabled
L'Ecurie
sleeps up to 2 people - self catering - ground floor apartment
all year
Wifi enabled
Why
not rent both gites, bring family or friends - they sleep up to 6 people in total.
The Beech
Room
sleeps up to 2
people - Bed & Breakfast - ground floor
from September until the end of May
Wifi enabled
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| View of the Pyrenees from our drive |
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| View towards St Victor Rouzaud |
Wifi enabled
(1Mb) in both self catering and B&B acommodation
English Satellite TV - Farmhouse & L'Ecurie only,
Large Swimming Pool Home
cooked traditional cuisine Use of full size snooker table Cycle & Motorbike Friendly
Approximately 4km from the "Chemin St Jacques de Compostelle"
Languages spoken: English & French
Pet friendly accommodation in L'Ecurie and The Beech Room
(See exceptions below and please notify us about pets before booking please)
Sara & Jeff Spencer
Telephone
or Fax: +33 (0)561 607721 Mobile:
+33 (0)6 17 05 25 17 Telephone
(3p/minute from UK): 0844 232 6192
VOIP (internet) Telephone: +33 (0)962 556115
Time zone: GMT +2
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| This is where we are - CLICK ON map to enlarge it. |
ST VICTOR DU FAU
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| The Stars of the show, "Annabelle Labrador" and "Tanga Cat" |
The
Spencer family, their black Labrador
Annabelle and tabby cat Tanga at St Victor
du Fau offer you a warm welcome at their
luxurious and large 2 bedroom Ariegeoise
self-catering, 3-storey farmhouse and attached comfortable rustic
self catering 1 bedroom, ground floor
apartment "L'Ecurie." St Victor du Fau, a typical Ariegeoise farmhouse built circa 1800’s
has been charmingly restored by its present owners. Deceptively modest in size from the front of the property, on entering
the front door of the Farmhouse, the rooms are large and bright. The house has been modernised and brought into the 21st
century whilst retaining its charm and many original features.
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| View of Pic de Barthelmy, the ski resort of Monts D'Olmes |
Set in a gentle valley amongst the rolling hills on 50 acres of open farmland
and woods on a "Reserve Nationale" (national park), at the end of a kilometre long drive,
only 5kms from the important and medieval town Pamiers. The roads nearby
the property were used as part of the major cycling race "Le Tour de France" in the summer of 2006.
The locality is a conservation area and is outstandingly beautiful and peaceful.
It is an ideal holiday location for guests seeking peace and calm, in a rural location, yet minutes from very
good local amenities.
A
car, motorbike or bicycle is essential to get to St Victor du Fau. There is ample parking and dry storage.
TOUR DE FRANCE 2010 link
The 2010 Tour de France will be finishing its 14th Stage in Ax-Les-Thermes, (a 45
minutes fdrive rom St Victor du Fau) on Sunday 18th July and starting the 15th Stage from Pamiers, on Monday
19th July. The actual road route is not yet known, but there maybe a possibility of the route passing the top of
our drive.
2010 Tour de France - Wikipedia information
House-hunting - why not use St Victor du Fau as your base and to look
at property in this beautiful area of France with our local estate agent who lives in St Victor Rouzaud.
LOCATION, TRAVEL & DISTANCES
Pamiers the nearest large
town has a number of bars, restaurants, supermarkets and shops and is an hour’s drive from either Carcassonne
or Toulouse airport and is just off the A66 Autoroute/N20 which then continues south to Andorra. British
Airways, Easyjet, Flybe, BMI Baby, Air France and Jet2 all fly into Toulouse from the UK. Air
Lingus flies into Toulouse from Dublin in Ireland. Ryanair
flies into Carcassonne, Perpignan, Pau and Girona (Barcelona). Information on car hire, airlines,
airports and train travel can be found at the bottom of the second page of this website.
Driving from the Brittany coast takes about 9 hours & from Calais about
10 hours. Private plane flyers can take advantage of the small local airport
(for light aircraft only) at Les Pujols which is a 15 minute drive from the farmhouse. Taxis and
car hire can be arranged for our guests.
There is also Motorail from Calais to Toulouse or Narbonne whereby one
can bring their own car and travel on the train without the effort of driving down through France.
The TGV also
comes from Paris to Toulouse. From Toulouse one is able to get a direct (stopping) train to Pamiers which takes about
1 hour. Car hire with Europecar is also available in the town centre should be required. OTHER VILLAGES, TOWNS AND PLACES There are other large towns nearby which are Foix, Mirepoix & St Girons, plus other
lovely villages of Escosse, Carla Bayle, Maz D’Azil, St Martin D’Oydes, Le Fossat, Benagues, Madiere , Unzent,
Bonnac & Pailhes all of which are within 25 minutes drive. The Pyrenean ski resorts of Ax-Bonascre, Les Monts D’Olmes
(downhill) and Plateau de Beille & Domaine du Chioula (cross-country & raquettes) are all possible to reach within
an hour. The large walled fortress town of Carcassonne is an easy drive of about an hour. The
seaside Mediterranean towns of Narbonne, Gruisson & Leucate are about 1½ hours away by car. Andorra is about
a 2 hour drive which is tax-free and not part of France or the EU.
Jump to Accommodation, Prices & Availability
Jump to Things to Do and See
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Ski-ing Locally and Snow
Sledging
There are a number of ski resorts in the Ariege,
the largest being Ax-Bonascre for downhill ski-ing which has the most runs of various levels. Ax can be reached
by train from Pamiers and then there is a "bubble car" up to the resort. It is best to arrive early in the
day as they do limit the amount of people going up in the bubble, as they have to bring them all back down again. Plateau
de Beille near Les Cabannes is the best resort for snow-walking, raquettes and cross-country ski-ing. Les Monts D'Olmes
is at a slightly lower altitude ski resort than Bonascre, has less runs, yet still very good. One can
take a "navette" (shuttle bus) which leaves Mirepoix at 8.00am during the Christmas holidays and on a Saturday throughout
the season. It arrives at Monts D'Olmes at 9.00am. The return journey starts from Monts D'Olmes at 5.00pm and
arrives in Mirepoix approximately 6.00pm. The price per adult is 4 Euros return. All the above mentioned resorts
however, are reachable by car and the roads are normally well gritted and salted. Skis, poles, sledges and raquettes
can be hired at the resorts on the slopes. There are a number of restaurants and bars in each resort.
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| Ax-Bonascre - excellent for downhill ski-ing! |
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| Plateau de Beille, excellent for cross country ski-ing |
Downhill Ski Resorts in the Ariege
Ax
Les 3 Domaines - 1400-2400m - 75km piste
Guzet
- 1100-2100m - 40km piste Les Monts
D'Olmes - 1500-2115m - 18.5km piste Ascou
Pailhes - 1500-2000m - 20kms piste Mijanes
Donezan - 1530-2000m - 9kms piste Goulier
Neige - 1500-2000m - 5kms piste
Cross Country Ski Resorts in the Ariege
Plateau de Beille - 1800-2000m - 75kms piste
Domaine du Chioula - 1240-1640m - 60kms piste Etang de Lers - 1300-1615m - 30kms piste La Tour Lafont - 1250-1500m - 15kms piste
Lakes & Rivers
There are a number of fresh water lakes, where one can walk
or swim. The nearest ones are at Lac de Mondeley or Lac de Carla Bayle which both have sandy swimming beaches and
a little further afield towards Mirepoix is Lac Montbel which is also good for swimming and has pedalos and kayaks.
Click on the link below for more information about swimming in lakes and rivers in the Ariege.
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| Lac de Mondeley |
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| Lac Montbel |
At Mercus part of the river Ariege is set aside for swimming, windsurfing and water teleski-ing. There is also a beach
where people can sit and picnic. This is a 25 minute drive from St Victor du Fau.
Information on lakes, rivers and swimming in the Ariege
Local Scenery and Walking/Hiking
in the Pyrenees
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| View on a walk in the Pyrenees |
Stunning views of the Pyrenees can be seen from the end of the
drive plus the rolling hills West of Pamiers and beyond. This is a fantastic location for walks
and touring the fine Cathar countryside which is steeped in history. Many local towns and places have been mentioned
in books such as The Labyrinth and The Albigensian Crusade.
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| Local area |
Apart from walking the local area is ideal for rambling,
photography, bird watching, cycling, ski-ing, sledging, raquette walking or wildlife watching and enjoying
the beauty of the surrounding area in the clean, fresh air.
Plateau de Beille, Ariege
Plateau de Beille is at an altitude of 1790 metres above sea level and is about a 45
minute drive from Pamiers. The road to it starts from Les Cabannes just after Tarascon on the N20 heading
south. This road has been used in many of the Tour de France and other cycling races.
Plateau
de Beille is primarily a winter ski resort with cross-country ski-ing, raquettes and dog sledging with Huskies. It is
close to the Spanish border and the ski slopes are between 1650 and 2000 metres high. It is also the most
important cross-country ski resort in the Pyrenees.
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| Plateau de Beille in the Summertime |
At the top there is a 360 degree view across the mountains of the Pyrenees.
There are 70km of cross country piste consisting of 12 tracks, 1-20kms long. There are many piste:
green, blue, red and black and 30kms of racquette trails.
Just before the summit there is a lovely area for sledging where one can park up alongside the road for
an alfresco picnic on the snow. This is a good area for keen walkers and hikers should they wish to climb the 16km ascent
to the Rulhe refuge which has its own resident warden. There are many local walks around the summit which are used during
spring, summer and autumn by foot.
There is a lovely restaurant in the main building of the resort called
La Beille Gourmande with wonderful views across the Pyrenees. It is open both winter and summer - during the summer
months tables are laid on the south facing terrace so that the clientele can enjoy the breath taking views and the sunshine.
Link to information on walking and hiking in the Pyrenees
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| Wikipedia - information |
Chemin
de St Jacques de Compostelle
The "Chemin St Jacques de Compostelle"
(The Way of St James) an ancient pilgrims route to Spain runs straight through Pamiers and our nearest village, St Victor
Rouzaud (4kms from St Victor du Fau) then on towards Montegut-Plantaurel. Using the GR78 route (national footpath)
from Pamiers to St Victor Rouzaud the journey would take approximately 2½ hours
Throughout the
town of Pamiers, places of interest are pointed out with information boards. The route through Pamiers is detailed below.
Map of Chemin de St Jacques through Pamiers with sites of interest with inforamtion.
Information on the Chemin St Jacques de Compostelle - look at "Pamiers - Montegut" section
Bank Holidays in France 2010
Easter Day (Paques) - Sunday 4th April
Easter Monday (Lundi de Paques) - Monday 5th
April
Labour Day - Saturdy 1st May
VE Day - WW11 Victory Day (Fete de la Victoire
1945) - Saturday 8th May
Ascension Day - Thursday 13th May
Whit Sunday -
Pentecost (Pentecote) - Sunday 23rd May
Whit Monday - Pentecost Monday (Pentecote Lundi) -
Monday 24th May
Bastille Day (Fete Nationale) - Wednesday 14th July
Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary - Sunday 15th August
All Saints Day (Toussaint) - Monday 1st November
Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)
- Thursday 11th November
Christmas
Day - Saturday 25th December
Link to French school holidays - Midi-Pyrenees is in Zone A
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| St Victor du Fau with snowfall |
Ski-ing in the Pyrenees - 50 minutes by train or car Click on "Jump to things to do
or see."
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Jump to Accommodation, Prices & Availability
Jump to Things to Do and See
This website was designed and built by Sara Spencer
B&B very close to Gatwick Airport - (click on B&B photo for the website).
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| Rosemead Guest House, Gatwick |
Welcome to Rosemead Guest House, a charming Edwardian house, providing non-smoking
Gatwick accommodation within walking distance of Horley town centre for shops, pubs and restaurants and only a 5
minute drive from London Gatwick airport.
Seaside B&B in the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands
("Les Iles Anglo Normandes") - (click on B&B photo for the website).
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| Lavender View B&B, Alderney, Channel Islands |
Bed
& Breakfast accommodation on the beautiful, peaceful and unspoilt island of Alderney in the Channel Islands.
Accommodation in private house on the edge of St Anne (main and only town on the island). 10 minutes walk from
town centre to bars, restaurants, cafes & supermarkets. Wonderful wildlife, beaches and much, much more.
Other B&B's to stay on your way down from the north coast of France - (click on B&B photos for their websites). Properties (top to bottom) from North to further South.
| Alencon Chambre D'Hotes |
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B&B in XVIII century Normandy farmhouse is in a village close to Alençon with views of the forest and the countryside
on the border of Normandy and the Pays de la Loire.
| Appletons Farmhouse |
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At Argenton-sur-Creuse,
near Chateauroux (Indre - department 36) midway between Orleans & Limoges, Central France. Accommodation for short breaks or all inclusive
deals, great place to stop off if you are on the way south to the Aude or Ariege area, just 6½ hours from Calais
or 5½ hours from Dieppe, relax unwind have a meal.
| The Bel Ombrage |
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A
lovely B&B in the department of Haute-Vienne (department 87), in the small town of Le Dorat. Nearest larger towns are
Bellac (15 minutes), north of Limoges (45 minutes) and south of Poitiers (1 hour) - midway between Limoges & Poitiers.
| La Pagaille |
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B&B, 30 kms south
east from Limoges, capital of the Haute Vienne and 2 kms from Chateauneuf la Foret.
| Fontegrive |
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B&B, Fontegrive only 3 km from the Romanesque town of Melle in the heart
of the Poitou-Charentes region of Western France.
| Le Manoir Souhait |
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A stunning country
house & cottage set in the midst of Cognac country, Poitou-Charantes, offering Bed & Breakfast. 3 km West of Beauvais-sur-Martha,
8km East of Martha, 27km Cognac. 390km St Malo (4 hours drive).
| Au Cent Neuf |
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Chambres & Table d'Hotes, Arlanc in the Auvergne en route south towards the Pyrenees. South-east of Clemont-Ferrand and west of St Etienne, this welcoming Chambres d’Hotes offers
a quiet oasis with classical light and airy bedrooms in a 'Maison de Bourg' townhouse full of character. Cent Neuf' is not a hotel, it is a 'home from home' where every guest is special and attentive service
is given with a smile. The journey to Pamiers from here is approximately 5½ hrs drive.
Link to www.bed-and-breakfast.la-france.org
"Les Fittes" Pension pour Chiens et Chats
Local Dog Kennel & Cattery near Carla Bayle
| Les Fittes Dog Kennels & Cattery near Carla Bayle |
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Les Fittes Dog Kennels & Cattery near Carla Bayle
Export & Import
of Pets Specialists and Air Transport
20 minutes drive from St Victor du Fau.
2
large bedroom farmhouse gite 1
bedroom apartment gite
Bed
& Breakfast
Swimming pool. Large grounds. Full size snooker table. Near Pamiers, Foix & Mirepoix, Ariege.
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